The Carolina Panthers might be hopeful that starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson will return from their respective injuries in due time. But until then, whenever that is, they may need some help.
NFL.com editor Gennaro Filice recently named
the top need for 10 of the league's playoff contenders. And in case you didn't know where this was going, he tabbed the corner spot as Carolina's biggest weakness.Filice writes:
With Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson currently parked on injured reserve, Carolina’s starting cornerbacks are fourth-round rookie Will Lee III and special teams ace Akayleb Evans. That might work against Tanner McKee and the rapidly deteriorating Eagles -- who could only produce 187 net passing yards and 14 points against the Panthers
in Week 6 -- but it’s a frightening prospect versus forthcoming opponents like Jordan Love and Lamar Jackson. Not to mention, Mike Jackson turns 30 in January and is ticketed for free agency in March, so the position could use an influx of talent for this season and beyond.
Lee has held his own in the two starts since the setbacks to Horn and Jackson. He's allowed 11 receptions for 100 yards over 19 targets, with his lone touchdown coming courtesy of Philadelphia Eagles star wideout DeVonta Smith.
The same, however, cannot be said for Evans. Evans, per Pro Football Focus, relinquished 11 catches for 197 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets back in Week 4. To his credit, he did bounce back in Week 6—letting up three grabs for 20 yards on five targets.
But how much longer can Carolina go without an addition or two to the room? Although the Panthers are 2-0 since Lee and Evans entered the starting lineup, trying to make a run to the postseason with a rookie and a special teams ace in place of one of the league's top cornerback duos could slow down their push.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: NFL analyst names Panthers' biggest need ahead of trade deadline
